















^°^^^. 




V ^^f^''\^^ 
















\/ V^^*/ \'^^\/ V^^'/ ^ 



■^/ 





'=^..<'" - 

^«»^, 











5^. 







• «• 



<&> « • • . <(> 





,4.*" .t^%% 













S""-^ 



>•••*'. 






^^. 



4r ^ 









^^' 



s>'^V 








,'^%V r.o*..r^-,% >*\'^%V f.o*-.-^-,% 












"^^^'^ 



-o**. Vft 






CIRCULAR, 

■/ y 

To THE FiJIENDS OF LiBEEIA A^'D AfRICA : 

The Corresponding Secretary of this Society, Rev. Dr J B Pin 
ney, was, by a unanimous resolution, passed July 21st 1868 re 
quested to visit Liberia for the purpose of obtaining informadon 
m relation to its present condition, wants, and . requirement, 
lakmg advantage of the departure of the bark Thomas Pope' 
then about to sail for Liberia, Dr. Pinney embarked from New' 
York August 5th, and, after an absence of five months, arrived 
safely again m that city, having from September 10th to Novem- 
ber 25th made a personal examination of nearly every settlement 
m each county of Liberia. His report showed that, notwith- 
standing considerable advances had been made in commercial 
and agricultural pursuits, there was a deplorable deficiency of 
schools; and that, if we hope to incorporate with our colonists 
the large native population and make them one people, common 
schools naust be extended to them. Earnest appeals'were made 
to him throug^iout the republic, for schools. The condition of 
the college at Monrovia was feeble, from the lack of scholarship 
endowments to support promising young men who are too poor 
to pay their own way. ■' 

More than five thousand slaves landed in Liberia from can- 
tui-ed slave-ships and over two thousand of the freedmen of the 
bouth lecently colonized-most of the latter without the know- 

br^the J'"""'/"f '" ^""' P^^^'-^5^-^-ve a special claim on us 
o he means ot education ; while the future strength and even 

-tety of Liberia require strenuous efforts to elevate the half- 

miliiou of the native tribes. 

In a personal interview with the Board of Control of the So- 
ciety, the Hon. J^J. Roberts, formerly P.-esident of the Republic, 

he r rTn p""^ ^' "^^'^''^ ^^^^^-^^' ''^''y --oborated 

tne leport of Doctor Pinney. 

In view of these facts, the' Board of Control have passed the 
following resolution : ^ 

-^.5.^..rf Thatinviewofthe present coadition of education in Liberia 
and the wan of naeans among her citizens to u.aintain pnbJic schools as ap 
pears from the report of our corresponding secretary o^ his obfervaUonsTa 
that country, which were corroborated by President Kobert.s, th s SocTe" 






until the indications of Providence sucrgest a different course, will direct its 
efforts chiefly to aid the people of Liberia in the establishment and mainte- 
nance of schools, to furnish the needy with implements of agriculture, and 
promote measures for the advancement of civilization. As ancillary to such 
objects, it will, to the extent of the means at its disposal, aid in colonizing 
such p -rsons as, from education or skill in mechanical arts or agriculture, pro- 
mise to become useful citizens." 

In pursuance oF this resolution, the society, while making 
efforts to find and send out educated emigrants who may promise 
special usefulness as teachers, skilled mechanics, or agriculturists, 
will devote its chief attention to the other purposes which are 
set forth in its charter in the following language : 

'• To provide the ways and means, and to manage, appropriate, and api.ly 
the same to colonize, with their own consent, people of color of the United 
States on the coast of Africa, and through them to civilize the African tribes, 
and also generally to improve the colored population of our country by ap- 
pointino- and sustaining agencies, diffusing information, collecting, receivmg. 
approprlatincr, or investing funds for purposes ot education in its various 
branches among people of color of our country heretofore colonized, or here- 
after to be colonized, and by other measures conducive to the objects ot Afri- 
can colonization." 

This society has ever represented to its friends that education 
is an essential element in the successful upbuilding of Liberia. It 
has had intrusted to it funds for educating young men of piety 
for the ministry, and a permanent fund for a professorslup and 
prize scholarships in the Liberia College. On these funds a pro-^ 
fessor and sixteen young men are now supported m a course ot 
instruction. By the uenerous assistance of a few individuals, 
several common schools have been opened by us for children ol 
both the natives and colonists, and are in successful operation ; 
but no permanent fund is held to support them. 

By letters from leading citizens of the Republic of Liberia, 
clercrvmen, merchants, and public officers, extracts from some of 
which will be found below, we are assured of the great interest 
they feel in the success of our efforts, and their desire to cooperate 
with us to the fullest possible extent. 

The Liberia Leiiislature of 1868 and 18G9 passed a law pro- 
viding for a system of schools such as was hoped to be attainable. 
But the means for this great and necessary work were so mani- 
festly beyond the resources of the people of Liberia, that the then 
President wrote to a friend in this country as follows: 



^ 3 

" MON-ROViA, May 10, 1869. 

" Dear Sir : With regard to the system of education to be inaugurated in 

Liberia, I am quite certain that it Avill require more means and facilities than 

we can supply, and I hope the friends of African colonization in the United 

" States may readily aid to some extent. The importance of such an education 

as I have recommended (common schools for colonists and natives) is daily 

felt by us as a sine qn.a non to the success of Liberia. The lower grade of 

teachers can he supplied in Liberia, if we had the money and school facilities. 

We shall in all prohabillty he compelled to make an appeal, and I think our 

friends in the United States icill not hesitate to aid us. 

"I am, dear Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

" James S. Payne." 

The succeeding administration, under President E. J. Roye, 
which came into office at the close of 1869, immediately secured 
from the Legislature a small appropriation with which to inau- 
gurate the system, and the Commissioner of Education appointed 
for Messurado County, Rev. G. W. Gibson, hastened to express 
the hope that we would cooperate with them, and has been as- 
sured that we Avill cordially do so, having in view only to assist 
and not to supersede the efforts of the government. 

' EXTRACT FROM LETTER OP COMMISSIONER GIBSON. 

" Monrovia, March 10, 1870. 
" Rev. J. B. Pinney, D.D., Secretary New-York State Colonization 

Society : 

" Dear Sir : As Government Commissioner of Education for this county 
I take the liberty of addressing you a few lines on the very important subject 
of public schools in Liberia. 

" The better thinking minds in this country have always taken the posi- 
tion that a system of common schools supported by the government should 
be adopted for the education of the children and youth, both Liberian and 
native, in and about our settlements. Last year a law was passed creating 
a commissioner of education, defining his duties, and providing for the estab- 
lishment of schools. For some cause or other, it was not, however, put into 
eifect. The present administration comes into power with the intention of 
carrying out the provisions of this act. An appropriation of six thousand 
dollars* is made for schools this year, which is apportioned among the four 
counties. Commissioners have been appointed, and schools are being estab- 
lished. 

" We are more than gratified to see the great interest taken by the New- 
York State Colonization Society in providing funds and establishing schools 
in Liberia also. But would it not be better to have the New- York Society 
operate in unison with the government in this matter'? Would it not save 
confusion and trouble if the society would support their schools under the 
control and superintendence of the government commissioner, and let him 

* Only about one dollar for each hundred inhabitants of all classes. 



report regularly to the society, with retrard to their schools, as the law requires 
that he do to the Secretary of the Interior of the government schools ?"* 

As above stated, we have many letters showing the need of 
schools and books, and developing the general feeling on this 
subject; extracts from a f'dw of which we here insert: 

" August 24, 1868. 

" We need also educational facilities. This has been too much neglected. 
The government is not, nor will it be, able to educate the masses for years to 
como. 

"The missionary societies are gradually withdrawing their schools from 
us, and looking forward to the day when the people themselves will take 
this matter in hand. Now sir, if these things are to continue as they are, 
and large numbers of ignorant and pauper emigrants are poured in upon us. 
you can judge what our end will be." 

" Republic of Liberia, Marshall, Oct. 4, 1869. 
" Dear Sir : I have for many years desired to be instrumental in civilizing 
and Christianizing the degraded sons and daughters of Africa. I have fre- 
quently taken their children, (not as some do simply to get their service,) but 
to instruct them,f by teaching them many of the advantages and arts of 
civilization, sending them to both day and Sabbath-school. I proprse to 
have a school conducted in Kidaclovis's Country, about thirteen miles from the 
settlement of Marshall, in the county of Grand Bassa, at a place where the 
Rev. T. H. Amos and myself promised to open a mission station ; but in con- 
sequence of brother Amos, on his return from the United States America, 
stopping at Monrovia, we have never been able to comply with the wishes 
of the people to whom we made this promise. My plan would be to select a 
situation suitable for a farm, take not more than twenty scholars the first 
year upon a farm, have school say, four hours each day, after which those 
that were large enough should assist on the farm ; the number of scholars to 
be increased the second year to aboiit thirt3'-five. Should said society think 
proper to accept my proposition, it will be my delight to make the school as 
interesting and advantageous as possible." 

* The idea here suggested has been carefully had in view by the New- 
York State Colonization Society from the beginning ; but as the government 
of Liberia, at the time of our first appeal, had no schools in operation, or 
school commissioner, and it was uncertain how far the attempt to secure aid 
might succeed, schools were, as fast as funds could be obtained, established 
undi-r the supervision of missionaries on the ground. 

An ellbrt will be immediately made to secure perfect coi'iperation with the 
puV)lic school system now commenced, and resolutions to that eflect have 
been communicated to the government of Liberia. 

f Another i,-orr(!spondent, referring to the writer of this letter, informs us 
that, at that vt^ry time, he was sending six native children to a school taught 
bv one of our teachers. 



"LiBEKiA, W. C. A., November, 1868. 

" The anxiety of the natives for schoDlin:^ can not be esaorgrerated ; all 
through the country they are asking for schools and letters. If" we had but 
the raemis, we could establish a hundred schools among the natives within 
a month, and derive a very considerable portion of their support from the 
natives themselves. And these native children have great capacity. One of 
my sshoolboys is a Kroo-boy, the equal of the foremost of my scholars in every 
branch, and spurred on by an eagerness for learning which is like a flame. 

" Alas ! liow shamefully neglected have these natives been by us Liberians ! 
But thank God. this neglect can no longer be continued. Never more in the 
future will any man or paity be tolerated here who dares to show despite or 
contempt for these benighted people. Never have I seen such a revolution in 
public sentiment, as has taken place in this country, within the last eighteen 
months. All of our foremost, best cultivated, most enlightened men, now 
come forwai-d and demand a better treatment and a higher cultivation of 
our aboriginal population. Much of this we owe to the sagacity and the 
persistence of Daniel B. Warner. The crowning acts of his administration 
were : 

" 1st. Visiting native chiefs, and announcing oneness and brotherhood 
with them ; and 

" 2d. Organizing schools for Congoes and natives." 

" Liberia, May 11, 1869. 

" Dear Sir : We are giving our undivided attention to the youth here. I 
am teaching the ' divinity students' and such others as are pursuing the 
higher branches, for which of course I receive nothing. The church is poor, 
and much of my salary, as stated supply, goes on the score of charity to 
them. You may not know how much a few dollars relieves us in this hard 
country. We have not even books furnished us now ; we want maps, etc. 
I am unable to buy them." * 

"Liberia, July 12, 1869. 

" I hope you will do all you can to assist us in our educational matter." 

" Monrovia, December 26, 1869. 
" The future prospects of Liberia appear to me gloomy. Your plan for 
educating the people is excellent. Upon your success or failure will, in a 
great measure, depend the future progress of Liberia. 

" Yours very respectfully, S. F. McGii,l." 

'•' Liberia, W. A., January 17, 1870. 
" My Dear Brother : I wrote also a short letter to you in October, brief- 
ly reporting the divinity studentsf under care of Presbytery, and showing 
the amount they had drawn, and would draw up to the close of the year ; also 
intimating my intention of having a school opened on the Farniington River, 
in obedience to your instructions to brother Amos or myself, August 6th, 1869. 

* i;'chool-books, maps, and stationery were, verj' shortly after the date of 
this letter, supplied by the New- York State Colonization Society. 

f Supported by the Bloomfield fund of the New- York State Colonization So- 
ciety. 



I have sslccted one of my preaching places on this river, near a native town 
known as Gazimbo's Place ; there are also several other towns adjacent, all 
anxious to be taujrht. I have employed Misis Margaretta Deputie as the teach- 
er, and am assisting her to build a suitable house, and shall give her any 
other assistance she may need. The school will be opened next week. (D.V.) 
" I sincerely hope we sliall have a number of schools on this river among 
these people, as they seem more accessible than any others with which I am 
acquainted ; they are very pacific. You ask me to write ' fully on the subject 
of primary schools for native, re captive, and Liberian children, and whether 
pious females can be secured to teach for $100 a year.' As I am away from 
home, (and still wish to embrace this opportunity of mailing,) I may not be 
able to give satisfaction ; but I beg simply to say, that a uniform salary to all 
the teachers will perhaps be an unequal distribution, on account of the dif- 
ferent character of the teachers intellectually considered ; no less the variety 
of circumstances under which teachers will be forced to work ; for example, 
some must leave home, build houses, clothe and feed children ; for native pa- 
rents have not yet learned their duty in these respects, and seem dull in com- 
prehending their own interest. My opinion is that, while the dependent con- 
dition of manj' of our females will make them willing to accept an appoint- 
ment even at $100 ; yet the first class of teachers can not be obtained, nor 
will any be duly compensated in a salary of $100 per annum. I would favor 
fewer schools, (if the fund is insufficient,) the best teachers liberally supported. 
I think that, for a time, say three or four years, at least, each teacher should 
be allowed such a salary as will enable her to feed, clothe, and otherwise sup- 
port native children, and have a decent balance for her own support. I think, 
furtlier, that as many native youth as possible should be taken into the 
Aiiierico-Liberian families, where they might obtain both an intellectual and 
physical education. I would gladly take a dozen if I were able to support 
them ; they may be fed and clothed for about twelve or fifteen dollars each." 

The Ibllowiiig letter shows their zeal and tlieir gi-atitude. 

■' Liberia, February 7, 1870. 

■• My De.\r Brother : You kindly requested me to write on the subject 
of public schools, and recommend suitable pious females as teachers, etc. 1 
went immediately up the St. Paul's River, and endeavored, from observation 
and inquiry, to ascertain the most destitute situations, and the most suitable 
persons to supply them as teachers. I met with several persons whom, from 
long personal acquaintance, I know to be well qualified to fill the office of 
teachers, in tlie many destitute situations wliich I saw at Careysbiirg, Harris- 
burg, and other parts of the St. Paul's River, as also on the l-'armington 
River. 

" I have often desired to give exjiression to the New- York State Colonization 
Society of my profound gratitude, as I contemplate the ])hilauthropic enthu- 
siasm which prompts your society to such noble and repeated acts of kindness 
in instances innumerable, and especially in this renewed asHurance you are 
jEfiving us of your good-will to Liberia, and indeed of the African race. 

" I admit we are too slow to feel and acknowledge the magnitude of .so 
great a donation as that you offer in schools and books for the education and 
redemption of Liberia. Yours respectfully." 



The following letter shows that scarcely had one of our female 
teachers begun her school in a native village north of Clay Ash- 
land, before the head man of the village was led to ask for a mis- 
sionary and a regular preacher. 

LETTER FROM A MISSIONARY IN LIBERIA. 

" March 9, 1870. 

" Mrs. Stephen, the daughter of Mr. Ellis, has moved out and settled in 
the interior of this settlement, and opened a school under the patronage of the 
New- York State Colonization Society. The head man of the town where she 
lives was in to see me a few days ago ; and I have arranged to visit them, and 
make arrangements for preaching in their town once a month at least. The 
government is about to make a move to establish schools in all the settle- 
ments throughout the republic, and also among the native tribes, wherein they 
will assist by paying a small tax. This is, I trust, but the beginning of a good 
and a glorious time among them. 

" The Commissioner for Public Schools is now engaged in traveling through 
the settlement and adjacent towns, making statistical observations, with a 
view to commence the public schools on the first week in April." 

Briefly this is our summary. The native tribes in Liberia are 
estimated at over half a million. They beseech us to establish 
schools. 

The recaptives from slave-ships and the recent emigrants from 
the uneducated freedmen, colonized from the cotton States, are 
for the most part destitute of schools, and need them to fit them 
for citizenship in a republic. 

The small civilized population, probably not over ten to fifteen 
thousand now in Liberia, having but little wealth, burthened to 
support a government which wasj^orced on them while they were 
too weak to bear it, and to keep up a thorough military strength 
sufficient to preserve the peace among hostile native tribes, can 
not possibly bear the tax needful to support an adequate school 
system. 

The various missionary societies, who to some extent furnish 
schools, do not feel able to enlarge their efibrts to meet the pre- 
sent emergency. 

Under these circumstances, we make our appeal to all who 
would preserve the Republic from relapsing into barbarism, and es- 
pecially to those who, in former years, have encouraged and aided 
our colored population to emigrate in the hope of building up a 
civilizing and Christianizing State on the shores of Africa, to 
unite with us in an endeavor to assist the Republic in providing an 



8 

economical system of primary schools for all classes of her popu* 
latioii, both of Native and American origin. 

Sabbath-schools, churches, and individuals of wealth can re- 
spond by assuming the support of one or more schools. Ladies 
who have done so much for the Freedmen, and who, in former 
years, aided Liberia by associations for the support of schools, the 
beneficial effect of which is yet felt in Liberia, can effectually help us. 

Confident that there is a pressing need for our effort, and that, 
when understood, our plans will secure the good-will and liberal 
support of many who desire and pray for Africa's redemjJtion, and 
who hope to see Liberia more and more a means to that end, the 
Board of Control of the New-York State Colonization Society con- 
clude, praying that He who turns the hearts of all men at his will 
may give success and favor among his people to our appeal. 

We are aware of the efforts making to elevate the condition of 
the freedmen in our own country, and we sympathize with the 
spirit which dictates them. But we believe the little band who, 
at the instance of Americans, left this country to build up a state 
in Africa, who have converted six hundred miles of its coast from 
being the home of slave-dealers, who are now trying to extend 
civilization in Africa, and in their feebleness are asking our aid, 
have equally strong claims upon us. While we endeavor to im- 
prove the condition of freedmen in the United States, we should 
also remember those in Liberia, and encourage them in their ex- 
ertions. 

Our Corresponding Secretary will at once, by lectures and per- 
sonal interviews, seek to awaken interest and diffuse information 
on the subject. 

We ask for him a cordial reception, and that he may have ac- 
corded to him the opportunity, by lecture, with a map of Africa, 
to show the magnitude of the interests at stake and the progress 
already made in the civilization of Africa. 

All donations and collections for this society may be paid to the 
Corresponding Secretary, Rev. J. B. Pinney ; or sent in bank- 
checiks or post-office orders to Isaac T. Smith, Esq., Treasui-er, Me- 
tropolitan Savings Bank, Nos. I and 3 Third avenue, New- York. 

Rev. John C. Loweie, D.D., ) 

WiLMAM Tracy, r Committee. 

Rev. E. B. Clkghorn, ) 

James W. Beekmax, President. 
JoHif M. GoLDBEKG, Recording Secretary. 



9 

" MojfROViA, Febniaiy 5, 1870. 
" Rev. J. B. Pinney, LL.D. : 

" Deak Sir : I have just returned from a brief visit to the Boporo reo;ioiis. 
Mr. W. Winwood Reade, an English traveler, author of Savage Afnea, ac- 
companied me. Rev. G. W. Gibson, of the Episcopal Chiirch, anxious lo 
respond to the urgent calls which are so loudly made for teachers from that 
quarter, sent out with me one of his candidates for orders to open a school in 
that country. The king, Momoro, was not at Boporo when we reached that 
town, but at Toto-Coreh, a fortified town ten miles on the east. We pro- 
ceeded thither, where the king received us in fine style, and especially wel- 
comed the teacher. Two days after we arrived, on Friday, January 31st, he 
called his principal men together in a large open building in the town, and 
presented in their presence his own and his brother's children, to form the 
nucleus of a school. 

" He exhorted the people on the importance of such establishments among 
them. He said that he himself, having lived a little while at Monrovia when 
a boy — sent thither by King Boatswain, his father — had gained some insight 
into civilization, which liad proved of so much advantage to him ; and he 
only regretted that his knowledge was so exceedingly limited. He now felt 
grateful for the opportunity afforded him of introducing among the children 
of the country the advantage of book-learning. 

" I then read a chapter from the Bible and prayed ; after which I took 
down the names of the boys presented, and gave them primers. They 
seemed delighted. After introducing to them the teacher — who made a few 
remarks — and entreating them to be kind to him, I dismissed the assembly 
by the permission of the king. That was a day long to be remembered by 
all who were present. To me it was a great and solemn privilege. Mr. 
Winwood Reade, who proclaims liimself a free-thinker, and Avho has not 
much faith in missions as religious agencies, could not resist the influence of 
the occasion. He drew up a paper giving his impressions of the country, 
etc., which he left with the king. 

" Mr. Gibson has assumed a great responsibility in opening a school at 
Toto-Coreh. I hope he will be sustained by his board. The Episcopalians 
are thus first in the field ; but the field is large and ueedj^." 

The New-York State Colonization Society, by a resolution of 
the Board of Control, passed April 21st, 1870, resolved* to locate 
one of its schools at Boporo, the old capital of the Condo country, 
to be tuider the supervision of Rev. G. W. Gibson, and appro- 
priated for this object a special donation of the friends in the 
interior. We hope this school will prove a means of uniting 
more closely the people of Boporo to the republic of Liberia. 

* Resolved, That a school, founded by dona,tions of Messrs. Howe and 
Hussey, be located at Boporo ; and that Rev. G. W. Gibson, of Monrovia, be 
authorized to appoint a pious teacher for said school, who shall report to this 
society quarterly. 



§4 W 





♦ ^1 

















Vv 



«5'^ 



3'V 



^U^ii'^" 










.•v^. 



^^vP^-^" 




.^^ 












y 4t 













• **'% 











0^ ^ •*''^^2«w:»" ^h^ 






^^^^^. 







6^^ 






\* ^ -^ • 













••,. ^- "'^ "I* V?>^ O*, ♦.no' «JD' ^^ *.0*' ^V 



wi^^^ 




l||fiS 




11 


li iiPl 




Frai 




|8| 




M 




S|fl 




iWi 




fiffi 




Si 







